INDIAN CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1931, Page 3

INDIAN CONFERENCE

LARGE MEASURE OF AGREEMENT

’ RUGBY, Jan. 3. Yesterday the 'lndian Conference reached nn important stage in the discussions, and the progress made during the last few days has lieen such as to give the hope of an early favourable conclusion to the proceedings. A good number of Indian delegates have arranged to return home towards the end of January. A leader in “The Times’ reviews the progress and refers particularly to the impression in some quarters that the Conference '.s procrastinating or failing. It states: “The delegates themselves are not dissatisfied nor despondent, and informed outsiders can only he amazed by what, in fact, has been achieved. Never before in all history was a conference faced with problems so colossal, so complicated, and so independent. Thanks to the Statutory Commission’s report and to other documents, a basis of discussion was ready, but even so, and allowing for the infinite variety of interests presented and the gift of oratory, it is a great accomplishment that a bare month and a half should have produced so large a measure of agreement about so many elements in the future constitution o! India. The question of Burma is practically decided, and the problem of the North-West Frontier Province has passed through the sub-committee stage with the minimum of reservations. Reports exist on the future franchise and the provincial Constitutions.”

“The Times” believes that the Hin-du-Moslem tension, which had been strained almost beyond endurance by partisan propaganda from India, now shows signs of yielding to generous statesmanship, and the paper adds: “Let it never be forgotten that the business of the Conference is not to produce a draft Constitution in detail, but to set before Parliament the problems in outline and the largest possible area of common ground. Many difficult problem remains, and that of Federal structure, including the vital question of the character of the Central Executive and responsibility to the Central Legislature, will take a. few more days in committee.

“These difficulties cannot be removed. but they are very materially diminished bv the new- prospect of an \UTndia Federation being an immediate possibility. The chances of a stable Legislature are far greater than they | were, and the whole trend of the round-table discussion has been to reveal a unanimous agreement on the necessity for a strong, Parliament, noi does anyone seriously challenge the case for what are commonly called reservations and safeguards.” The leader points out that the whole theory of the Round-Table Conference was that it was the common meeting ground of fellow-workers on equal terms, and it claims for "the Conference ■the valuable result qf" bringing all its -member's down from the clouds. The :hajbit of working together has grown, and there is the loss, of that suspicion 'whih Lord Sankev has deprecated as the impossible foundation for future peace. The leader concludes ; “The Conference may' fairly claim that it has neither wasted time nor avoided crucial issues.